Wrongful death lawsuit filed over fatal Franklin Borough police crash that killed Sussex County teen
FRANKLIN BOROUGH, N.J. (Sussex County) — A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against Franklin Borough, the Franklin Borough Police Department, a borough police sergeant and several other entities in connection with a 2024 crash that killed a 19-year-old Vernon Township teen.
The civil lawsuit, filed May 15 in Sussex County Superior Court by Steven D’Arco individually and as administrator of the estate of Deanna D’Arco, alleges negligence and reckless conduct related to the May 27, 2024, collision on Route 23 near Walsh Road in Franklin Borough.
Named defendants include Franklin Borough, the Franklin Borough Police Department, Sgt. William Grissom, the State of New Jersey, the New Jersey Department of Transportation, Sussex County, Franklin 23 Associates and ABC Property Management Company.
According to the complaint, Grissom was operating a Franklin Borough police vehicle southbound on Route 23 at approximately 10:41 a.m. when the collision occurred. The lawsuit alleges Grissom was not responding to an emergency call and was not operating with activated emergency lights or sirens at the time.
The complaint states roadway and traffic conditions were hazardous because of parade-related traffic closures and recently reopened traffic flow in the area.
Court filings further allege Grissom operated the police vehicle “at an excessive and unsafe speed,” failed to reduce speed approaching commercial access points and failed to anticipate foreseeable traffic hazards.
The lawsuit also alleges Franklin Borough and the police department negligently hired, trained and supervised Grissom. Additional claims allege the commercial property near the crash site had a dangerous driveway and traffic-access configuration that contributed to unsafe roadway conditions.
According to the lawsuit, Deanna D’Arco sustained catastrophic injuries in the collision and died May 29, 2024.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages, wrongful death damages, emotional distress damages, legal costs and other relief.
The civil action follows a 2025 state grand jury decision not to file criminal charges against Grissom in connection with the crash.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, investigators reviewed dispatch audio, dashboard and surveillance video, crash reports and police vehicle data before the grand jury voted “no bill” on Sept. 29, 2025.
State officials previously said Grissom was driving approximately 38 to 40 mph in a marked police vehicle when a Honda Prelude exited the ShopRite parking lot near Walsh Road and crossed into the southbound lane, resulting in the collision.
